Diploma in Public Health

The Diploma in Public Health (DPH) consists of two parts each made up of six week-long courses. Part I consists of six prescribed courses. These courses are the same as those prescribed for Part I of the Master of Public Health. DPH II students may select either the field of Health Policy and Management or the field of Health Measurement and complete at least four of the courses listed under that field of study and two further courses from those offered in either of those fields of study subject to time and availability. This does not apply to students who have selected the fields of Community Rehabilitation or Occupational Hygiene as both fields have prescribed courses.

The Diploma shall extend over not less than one academic year of full-time study; or not less than two academic years of part-time study.

Diploma in Health Service Management 

Aim of the Course

The Diploma in Health Service Management (DHSM) is to develop specialised skills and knowledge and to prepare learners for positions as managers at district or provincial level, as managers of health care facilities, or as health program co-ordinators, so contributing to the need in our country for management skills at all levels of the health care system.

• Exit Level Outcomes and the Associated Assessment Criteria 
• Problem-Solving Ability
• Knowledge of Management Principles and the Application Thereof
• Attitudes and Values
• Self Development
• Working with others as members of a team, group, organisation, community
• Play a leadership role in public health.
• Develop skills of critical and analytical thinking.
• Professional and General Communication

Admission Requirements  

A bachelor's degree of at least four years duration in dentistry, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and hearing therapy or social work.
A bachelor of Arts or Sciences with honours in psychology or sociology or other field of relevance to public health.
By special arrangement with the University.

Programme Details  

The DHSM is offered as a full-time degree over one year or a part-time degree over two or more years. The course has two parts.
Part I: consists of core courses comprising 6 one-week blocks.
Part II: consists of advanced courses comprising 6 one-week blocks.
Each course module has a reading pack and is followed by an assignment. Evaluation is by a combination of course work tasks/assignments and examination.

Content

Part I
Candidates are required to select and registrar for at least six of the following courses:

• Health Service Management: General Principles
• Health Services Management: Personnel
• Health Services Management: Finance
• Institutional, Corporate and Hospitals Management
• Introduction to Management Theory and Practice
• Resources, facilities and logistics
• Strategic Planning and Management

Part II - Fields of Study
The diploma is offered in the following fields of study: Health Measurement and Hospital Management

Candidates are required to select one of the following fields of study and complete at least six of the courses listed under that field of study:

• Health Legislation and Structure of Health Services 
• Health Service Management: Health Information Systems and Health Facilities 
• Quality Assurance in Health Care 
• Financial Management and Health Economics 
• Human resources Management and Development 
• Introduction to Health Measurement
• Project Management for Public Health Practitioners
• Problem Solving and Decision Making for Health Managers
• Health Systems and Decentralisation
• Health Policy and Policy Analysis
• Health Legislation and Structure of Health Services 
• Integrated case studies
• Hospital Information Systems
• Hospital Administration: Financial Management 
• Hospital Administration: Human Resource Management 
• Hospital Administration: Operations Management 
• Hospital Administration: Strategic Management

Upgrade Options

The DHSM can also be upgraded to an MPH depending on the participants overall performance and the acceptance into MPH III.